one of the best analogies I’ve ever seen to explain the downfall of Socialist taxation policies.

The Parable of 10 Men in a Bar

from: http://itooktheredpill.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/the-parable-of-10-men-in-a-bar/

Not a Bible parable, obviously, but one of the best analogies I've ever seen to explain the downfall of Socialist taxation policies.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes,it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.' Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100%savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I got'

'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works!!

The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

[Found on Internet, here's what Snopes has to say about the authorship.  Regardless of who wrote it, it explains the concepts very well.]

"Spreading the wealth around" never results in a better outcome for people.  It always results in destruction.  Case study: Zimbabwe.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

---

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1. Isolden Says:
   October 22, 2008 at 9:24 pm

   I heard this first on Rush's show and thought it a very appropriate analogy. Wish more ppl knew about it - pass it on -

2. ozarksky Says:
   October 22, 2008 at 11:17 pm

   This is great!!! It's so simple…yet BHO just doesn't get it. Or…perhaps he does…get us all drunk (for free) and have his way with us. Count me out!!

3. sweetakin Says:
   October 23, 2008 at 11:20 am

   While sitting at our coffee table with my 8th grader studying for an upcoming test, political news was on the t.v. in the background. My son was observing the treatment of "Joe the Plumber" and asked why people (media) were bashing him for asking a question. After my explanation, my son remarked, "Mom, that would be like me making 100 on my test, a classmate making a 25, my teacher taking points away from me, and giving them to the other student all so that our grades would be equal. But then we'd both fail."

   I replied, "Yes, but maybe that would be fair." To which he replied, "Or maybe he/she didn't study, or better yet, didn't even care to study because he/she knew they would get some of my points. In that case, why should I study?" To which I replied, "Bingo son, you get it."

   P.S. Bless you for the "shout out" on MM! You're terrific! I understand that this time of year she would be inundated with trolls, so I will continue to read and learn.

4. itooktheredpill Says:
   October 23, 2008 at 12:10 pm

   sweetakin,
   Your son is wise! You have taught your children well.

   Thank you for your kind words.

   Sincerely,
   Red Pill.

wooops

wooops
Originally uploaded by jimshitz010010010010000101

Proof that Obama's camp faked his birth certificate

Uploaded by jimshitz010010010010000101 on 16 Oct 08, 12.18PM PDT.

Why should someone tell me where my money goes???

An editorial by Paul Marx, Owner of radio station KBON 101.1FM

I was brought up believing that the United States of America was the
country that gave anyone the opportunity to be as successful as one
can achieve, but now it seems that many people believe that if you
become too successful you should be "punished"; if you make "too
much" money with your success some of that money should be taken away
from you and "shared" with those less fortunate, but aren't we are
already sharing?

Aren't the so called "less fortunate" in this country already being
taken care of? After all they get Federal housing, Food stamps,
medical cards and God knows what else. How much more should we give
them?? We have become a country filled with too many people who want
something for nothing. Do we just keep giving and giving to those who
contribute the least to the country? Shouldn't there instead be some
sort of plan to reward those who contribute to the country or at
least let those who earn success, enjoy it?

Why is it always so popular for a politician or political candidate
to talk about "more taxes" on the rich? Why can't people understand
that in most cases it is those so called "rich people" that own
businesses and create jobs. They are people who in many cases
started at the bottom and worked their way up, many taking a gamble
by investing their life savings into a business or idea. So, they
invest, build their business with hard work, hire people to work for
them and see some well earned success, then we punish them. That's
right folks, while the word "tax" is being used it's not
really "taxing" those people who earned success, it is punishing
those people. Is it fair that we take from these people
to "distribute the wealth"? Distribute to who??

I don't want the government to take money that I have worked hard for
and give it to someone who most likely does not contribute to this
country. I am fed up with driving down the streets at mid-day and
seeing people sitting outside smoking, drinking and playing cards
under a tree while I have to worry about my business; how the downed
economy will affect it. I am tired of going into a store all times of
the day and seeing people buying expensive steaks with food stamps
but having the cash to buy cartoons of cigarettes, bottles of wine or
whiskey and cases of beer. I am tired of driving by bars during work
hours and seeing the same cars there day after day. These are some of
the very people Presidential candidate Barak Obama wants to "spread
the wealth" to.

Anyway don't financially successful people spread the wealth on
their own by spending more money? I would think that they probably
buy bigger, more expensive homes, more expensive furniture, more
expensive automobiles, send their kids to college, etc. In other
words, besides creating jobs for other people who WANT to work, they
help the economy by spending that money that they have earned.
I agree with this "post" I found on a discussion board: "It is not
the governments job to determine who makes" too much" money, only to
make fair rules for all to follow. The smart and motivated will
succeed, the lazy will not".
To Quote "Joe the Plumber": "That's the American Dream to me. You
work hard. You're going to get what you want eventually. It's not
going to happen overnight by no means, but if you work hard enough
you will get it. I resent the government or Obama's plan to take more
away from me." -- (Joe Wurzelbacher, October 12, 2008).

As "Joe" told Diane Sawyer recently: "Americans should get treated
equally. Why do we have escalating tax brackets on higher incomes at
all? Why are we penalizing the success that we proclaim as the
American Dream"?

A writing by Peter Ferrara titled "Federal Income Taxes: Who Pays and
How Much" states: "Facts are that the top 1% of income earners are
paying 40% of federal income taxes, almost twice their share of
income, so the rich certainly seem to be paying their fair share, and
then some. Liberal politicians who say we need to raise taxes on the
rich so they will pay their fair share are either abusively
misleading the public or hopelessly ignorant regarding federal tax
policy. If 40% is not fair for the top 1%, what would be fair, 50%,
100%? Secondly, liberal politicians wailing about Republican tax cuts
for the rich are also either misleading the public, or hopelessly
uninformed. With the top 1% now paying 40% of income taxes, the top
5% paying 60%, and the top 40% paying 99.4%, where are the tax cuts
for rich? Clearly, federal income taxes are overwhelmingly paid by
upper income earners".

In my opinion, Barack Obama's political strategy seems to be more
welfare and give-away programs at the expense of not only who he
considers to be "rich", but also at the expense of the hard working
middle class Americans (Even though many of them may not realize that
yet); taking from them and giving to those who contribute the least
to this country.
It's very sad but it seems that America is becoming a nation of more
& more people with their hands out for charity & freebies, and I have
to give Barack Obama this. He's smart enough to realize that
promising to give more of "something for nothing" to these people
will get him millions of votes.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. This election, maybe more than ever, it is very
important that you THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE and put AMERICA FIRST!

Thank you,

PAUL MARX
Owner/KBON 11.1FM
www.kbon.com

P.S. One more thing. Ask yourself, who would you have voted for if
this election had been right after 9/11? In your honest opinion who
do you think would have best acted on America's behalf?

4 star menu-for fewer than 4 bucks

Here are some simple items that can turn your everyday grocery list into something resembling a 4 star menu-for fewer than 4 bucks:

1. Off-Brand Orange Marmalade $2-3
Why spend the money on high-end (read: expensive) orange marmalade if you’re just using it as a glaze for meat or adding it into a dessert? To get the flavor benefit without the added cost, try adding orange marmalade to an oozing round of soft cheese that has been warmed in the oven, and then top it off with candied walnuts or toasted pine nuts. Serve with crackers. Also, mix with an equal part of mustard and rub on salmon, pork or chicken.

2. Fresh Dill $2-2.50
Some people think that being able to draw from a collection of herbs and spices is the secret to great cooking. That may be, but quality not quantity is the key to sealing your foodie cred. Those herbs that are browning away on your spice rack aren’t doing anything for a dish’s flavor profile. The trick to making effective use of any herbs is freshness and dill can add a delicious subtle touch to all sorts of dishes. Try mixing it with plain cream cheese and spread on crackers or bagel chips, topped with smoked salmon, diced tomatoes and red onions.

3. Asian Chili Paste $3.59
There’s nothing quite like the fiery high note of chili paste to give a dish depth and make it more interesting. Look for it in the market with the name Sambal Oelek. Sambal Oelek is unique as a flavoring ingredient because it is typically made up only of chilies with no other additives. Add lime and sugar and you’ve got sweet Indonesian dipping sauce. Add to mayo for an Asian aioli which makes a fab spread on toasted bread with any sandwich filling. Or serve alongside Gyoza (Japanese noodle dumplings).

4. Whole Grain Mustard $4.50
Move beyond the French’s and explore some more exotic mustard varieties. While there are a variety of mustards, from sweet honey to Chinese to Dijon available to you, Maille has a flavor and texture that adds interest to everything from sausage to deli sandwiches to salad dressings and sauces. And you only need a little. Make your own salad dressing: A dab of mustard, some red wine vinegar, olive oil, and a bit of honey can dress up even the most garden variety salad. Add herbs for variation.

5. Fresh Ginger Root $1.50
Ginger always seems to get overlooked in favor of its admittedly amazing cousin, garlic. But that’s a shame. Ginger has depth, round edges and an almost citric bite that, as Asian cooks have long known, goes great with fresh and cheap ingredients. Make a ginger dressing by combining ginger with sesame oil and rice vinegar and either mix by hand or in a blender. Add your dressing to a coleslaw mix to make an Asian slaw. Or serve it alongside Ahi Tuna Tartar for the kind of appetizer found in many high-end restaurants, no cooking required.

6. Risotto $4
It sounds fancy but Risotto takes less than 20 minutes to make and can be a great way to use up leftover vegetables, cheese or even seafood or sausage. Just add about 1/4 cup of whatever topping you like to each serving right before putting it on the plate. Classic combos include mushrooms and Parmesan, sausage and tomato or shrimp and peas.

7. Greek Yogurt $2
There’s no reason to use plain yogurt when you can get the rich, unsweetened Greek variety instead. Use in dips, cream sauces, roll-ups, and desserts. Combine with mint, garlic and lemon to taste and serve alongside hummus, pita and chopped veggies. You might not think so but Greek Yogurt is also perfect for cooking Indian style yogurt chicken.

8. Vinegar $1-1.50
Vinegar is cheap but it can transform ordinary root vegetables into taste sensations. Start with the cheapest carrots, beets and onions you can find and make pickles by briefly boiling them, then cooling in ice. Add vinegar and sugar and you’re done.

9. Eggs $2-4
Okay so even if you aren’t much of a gourmet, you’ve probably got eggs on hand and if not you definitely should. This staple is both versatile and still relatively inexpensive even if you go for the free-range or organic variety. But don’t be confined to serving them sunny side up or scrambled. Go gourmet by poaching them for an Eggs Benedict or Salad Lyonnaise (eggs on a frisee salad with bacon). Eggs can be added to casseroles, used as the binding agent in veggie burgers or make their way into a frittata for a festive Sunday brunch. For a quick frittata, beat 4 or 5 eggs, and then scramble slightly with spinach and mushrooms. Bake in the pan in the oven until solid.

Once you’ve got these ingredients stocked in your pantry, look to sites like GourmetSleuth.com, EzEating.net, or SimplyRecipes for more great ideas on what to do with them.

FROM MINT.COM

tips from mint.com

With all of the recent doom and gloom in the financial markets, it’s easy to get discouraged about your own financial situation. But here’s some good news for a change. While personal finance may seem complicated, it really boils down to 4 good habits that can make the difference between going broke or building up your net worth each month.

1. Save money
2. Avoid debt
3. Invest
4. Don’t lose it

Just as with achieving a balanced diet or maintaining a regular exercise regimen, getting your financial house in order is easier said than done. What’s that they say about the best laid plans? A 12 step program can get you on the road to financial recovery.
Save money

1. Know what you spend

The first step to growing your money is knowing your money. Just by seeing that you spent $432 one month dining out with your friends, or that you went to Starbucks 37 times, you’ll change your spending habits for the better.

2. Stick to a budget

Most of us really only have 1-2 “problem” areas. Maybe it’s shopping, maybe its electronics. Once you know how much you typically spend, set a budget 15-25% lower. If you try to cut too hard too fast, you’ll never be able to stick to it.

3. Find a checking account that pays interest

“Free” checking isn’t exactly free. Sure you get free checks and no account fees, but most checking accounts pay no interest - zero, nothing. Meanwhile, the banks are loaning your money out in the form of mortgages or business loans at 7-8% interest. That’s how banks work. If you don’t have a checking account that pays interest, you’re being ripped off. Consider switching your account to one of the many that allow your money to work for you such as an E*Trade Max-Rate Checking Account (2.9% APY on accounts over $5K) or an HSBC Online Payment Account (2.25% APY, open an account with as little as $1).

4. Find a savings account that pays 3%+ interest

The average US savings account only pays about 0.5% interest. With inflation at 2-3%, you’re actually losing purchasing power each year. Find a high-yield savings account, money market fund, or CD that pays more such as WaMu Free Checking and Savings (3.0% APY, open with WaMu Free Checking) or E*Trade Max-Rate Savings (3.3% APY, open with as little as $1).
Avoid debt

5. Know your credit score and correct your credit report

Your credit score determines the interest rate lenders will charge on your credit cards, mortgage, student loan, or car loan. That means any mistakes in your credit report can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Unfortunately, 79% of all credit reports have an error, and 25% have an error serious enough to deny you access to credit. Take charge of your credit score at FreeCreditReport ($12.95/month for credit score and monitoring) or myFico (all three FICO scores and credit reports).

6. Eliminate late fees

About 35% of your credit score is determined by on-time payment. If you’re late on a credit card payment, it could cost you much, much more than the $29 late fee - if you let it go more than 60 days, it can affect your credit score and cost you thousands.

7. Don’t pay credit card finance charges

The average American carries $8,500 in credit card debt. At a minimum payment of $100 a month, it takes 6.7 years, and $4,257 in extra finance charges before you’re in the clear. If you carry a balance, one way to get some temporary relief is through a balance transfer. The best way out of this quagmire is to pay down your highest interest card first, or look for a balance transfer card such as the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (0% Balance Transfer APR for up to 12 months, no annual fee, 3% transfer fee) or the Chase Platinum Visa® Card (0% Balance Transfer APR for up to 12 months, no annual fee, 3% transfer fee but no more than $99).

8. Get a credit card that pays you

Visa and MasterCard typically charge retailers 2-3% of each purchase you make. As a consumer, you can get a cut of those fees in the form of cash back rewards. Don’t settle for a card that pays less than 1%. A typical household can get as much as $300 a year back just for buying what it was going to buy anyway. Examples of cash back cards include the Chase Freedom℠ Visa Signature® Card (3% cash back on gas and groceries) and Blue Cash® from American Express (up to 5% on gas, restaurants, and drugstores).
Invest

9. Contribute to an IRA or 401k

Invest $100 a month in a tax-deferred account like an IRA or 401k, and at a growth rate of 10%, in 30 years you’d have $380k. In a regular taxable account (assuming 20% annual taxes), you’d only have $229k. That’s a $151k difference. Companies such as Fidelity and E*Trade offer such accounts.

10. Start investing and keep investing

Two simple steps can put you ahead of 99% of your peers. First, have your employer automatically deduct $200-$300 a month from your paycheck to a brokerage or mutual fund account. Second, grow that money in an index fund like the S&P 500. By having the money automatically deducted, you won’t be as tempted to spend it. If $200 a month in the S&P behaves as it has in the past 20 years, two decades from now you would have around $170k in savings. Open a Scottrade Brokerage Account ($7.00 stock trades, $500 minimum deposit) or an E*Trade Financial Brokerage Account ($12.99 stock trades, $1,000 minimum deposit).
Don’t lose it

11. Create an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund helps protect you against all of life’s ups and downs, whether they be car repairs, job loss, or a leaky roof. If you’re young, single and have no mortgage, strive for about 3 months expenses, or ballpark around $10,000. If you have a house, kids, or both, strive for 6 months expenses, or around $20,000 - $30,000 for the average family. Be sure to keep your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account so that it continues to grow.

12. Protect yourself with insurance

The right insurance depends greatly on your age and whether you have a family. If you’re in your 20’s, you need renter’s insurance - it’s typically around $150 a year and covers theft and fire. If you have a family, you need life insurance, health insurance, and disability insurance. Compare rates at InsWeb.com or Insurance.com.

CHANGE... WE NEED!??

CHANGE... WE NEED!
Originally uploaded by hhsc/Greg

view profile
~ Sailor ~ Pro User says:

Ha! You are gonna get your CHANGE alright. Venezuela got their CHANGE. It's a brave new world, folks. HOPE you can afford the taxes given to another 35,000,000 non-tax paying citizens.

95% of Americans will get a tax cut! NEWS Flash - 30+% of Americans DON'T pay taxes. Do the math!

HA! I quit. I have started with nothing but the shirt on my back 3 times. Not again.

Obama can mail my check and you can keep your CHANGE.

Ha, this is gonna be almost as fun as the 1960s.

Hey, if by chance Obama does lose, will y'all be attending the riots?
Posted 13 hours ago. ( permalink )

obama chicken

obama chicken
Originally uploaded by eywmm0

an orange beach resident put this on the back of their truck.

Uploaded by eywmm0 on 15 Sep 08, 7.16AM PDT.